For five years I have wanted to do this hunt, but life and stuff got in the way everytime.
Finally I had a break in work, school, and cash from Santa to make it happen so my buddy and I loaded his "goat" (Dodge pickup) and rolled into our camp about 11pm Thursday night.
We made camp and hit the rack for a few hours before we started the hunt.
Next am after fiddling up the alarm we were off on the quad to glass. Immediately we see 20 does and a small Forky and spike, both with milk on their lips. Aka my kind of trophy.
I planned the stalk with my buddy giving me signals but never got within even sniper range as the wind was bad and they bedded with the does protecting both bucks like they were the Rolling Stones or something. After that we located another 30 does with no bucks.
That afternoon we poked around in an area with week old deer and javie sign, and hours old lion sign. Nice...
Next am my buddy almost got a shot at a small three point that moved into that group with the fork and spike but it didn't happen.
After that we checked more country and luckily found a group of four javelina about a mile and a half off. Luckily because it didn't "look piggy" and I started glassing an area I thought I already had as my buddy checked the maps for our next spot.
Quickly we hauled butt over there, got the wind right and kicked off our boots.
Once we got close things got a little wild, but my buddy was able to call two in on a string. If mine didn't turn at the last second I would have gotten a lap dance!
As she turned the Widow spit out a 535gr meat missle at her, hitting high and back.
CRAP!!!!!!
Turns out I got liver, kidney, and the artery below the spine and she was done in less than 75yds. She pumped blood like crazy and though the shot was bad as I hadn't practiced running shots at 60 inches enough, I knew she was done.
Here she is, had zero "stank" and was very big for a female.
Got her and took some pics before skinning out and getting back to finding more deer and javelina.
That night we only found does.
We were both surprised by the numbers of does without even dinks with them. Given the time constraint and being I haven't gotten a buck with the Widow yet I was wanting to tag whatever buck I could.
That night we grubbed down and went to bed with high hopes for our last full day.
That am my buddy got within pinching distance of the second best buck we saw the whole trip, but there is such a thing as "too close" and the buck got away unscathed.
That night we went to yet another good lookin area and glassed up a dozen does and one buck, solid 24" 3 or 4 point that was pretty heavy and full framed, but 2 miles off and had only a few minutes to get there.
We tried to find a route to cut the distance but couldn't and glassed until dark and headed to camp.
Next am we couldn't find the deer until right before we threw in the French (white) flag.
We bumped a familiar 22" 3 by 4 and I grabbed the Widow and ran like Forrest Gump up he ridge to cut them off.
I got within "Widow range" twice but the damn does had him blocked like the secret service everytime I had him in the clear.
Finally they hauled off and I had to watch and walk back to the quad so we could get out of there as the sleet started falling.
Great hunt with a good buddy in different and new country. Luckily that deer tag is valid later in the year and I am already stacking points with the warden to get there in August.
Here's a few more pics that I found worth noting.
Here's the only Arizona deer I get to chew on until at least August.
A pretty neat pic of me glassing right at dusk on the third night.
Topic: Black Widow Spotted in Arizona (Read 915 times)
